Chapter <b>143 </b>


    Mirabe arched an eyebrow, cocking her head as she looked at him. “Did you ck out?”


    Zach paused, his brain clicking into gear. “That’s a loaded question if I ever heard one.”


    Her smile was a mix of mirth and mystery. “Nope, just echoing Dad’s wisdom. You really gotta cut back on the booze.” With that, she returned her focus to her breakfast, her movements serene and deliberate.


    Scratching his head, Zach couldn’t shake the feeling that something had gone downst night that he was clueless about, something that had to do with his aching shoulder.


    After they finished their meal, Mirabe headed upstairs to the room, intent on packing away the incense she had crafted the night before.


    Having the day off from the office, Zach trailed after her. His curiosity was piqued when she entered Nick’s room. He followed suit. Stepping inside, he was greeted by the subtle scent of sandalwood.


    Mirabe was there, precision in her hands as she sliced the incense. She noticed Zach out of the corner of her eye but didn’t shy away from his gaze.


    “What’s this, Mira?” Zach picked up a small stick of the incense, lifting it to his nose. “Sandalwood?”


    Without missing a beat, she hummed an affirmation.


    His eyes swept over the tools on the table with surprise. “You know how to make incense?<b>” </b>Though Zach wasn’t exactly an aficionado of aromatics, he knew a couple of friends who dabbled in the craft enough to be familiar with the basics. The thought that his sister, who had grown up in a quiet town, could be so adept at this craft and exude such a natural elegance while doing it was genuinely astonishing.


    “Learned a thing or two,” Mirabe said softly, eyes downcast. In no <b>time</b>, she had finished packaging the incense into a small box.


    Zach stroked his chin thoughtfully. This incense was too well–crafted to be the work of at novice. After a moment, he asked casually, “Did you pick up these skills while staying with Catherine? Did she arrange a professional teacher for you?”


    Mirabe looked up, her eyes reflecting a quiet confidence. “No, I taught myself.” She was the only one bold enough to mix special herbs with the sandalwood.


    Zach’s potentialpliment about Catherine’s mentoring skills was cut short by Mirabe’s admission of self–teaching. He was left speechless. Alright then, ever since his sister hade back, he had be the unwitting backdrop to her brilliance.


    Unaware of Zach’s inner turmoil, Mirabe pulled out her phone and tapped open Messenger. She sent a message to James. [You there? The incense I mentionedst time is ready. Should we meet up so I can give it to you?] Despite his earlier refusal, she felt obligated to return the


    <b>13-33 </b>


    favor.


    As her phone chimed with <b>a </b>reply, she nced at the message, then slipped the phone back into her pocket. Turning to Zach, she said. “I’ve got to run an errand.” With the box of calming incense in hand, she headed for the door.


    Zach, who had been silently hoping for a sisterly gift of her homemade incense, was taken aback as she walked away with it. He hurried after her, abandoning all pretense of dignity as he asked, “Mira, don’t I get a piece of the incense you made?” There was a hint of yful reproach in his voice.


    Mirabe stopped and gave him a thorough once–over. “You’re not sick, so you don’t need it.”


    Zach choked on his response. Wasn’t the point that everyone present should get a share?


    Especially when he was her dear brother!